Militants Claim to Have Killed Iraqi Contractor - 2004-10-02

Militants in Iraq say they have beheaded an Iraqi contractor who worked with U.S. forces, and say they will find and kill any other Iraqis who work with Americans.

The Ansar al-Sunna Army said on its website Saturday, that the man was killed because he was involved in infrastructure projects for American forces. Their claim could not be confirmed.

In a separate development, a video appeared on Arabic television of a Jordanian apparently kidnapped by an unidentified militant group. Gunmen said they would kill the man in 72 hours if his Jordanian employer does not withdraw from Iraq. The authenticity of the tape could not immediately be verified.

Meanwhile, the French government has expressed concern that a French lawmaker's independent efforts to mediate the release of two French journalists may interfere with official efforts.